Now that Apple has finally ventured into 4G territory with the new iPad, it’s inevitable that the next iPhone will follow suit, right? If the latest rumors hold any weight, it sure would seem that way.

While we think it’s a no brainer that we’ll see 4G LTE in the next iPhone, we’ve received a tip that makes us feel a lot better about the possibility.

The following information definitely confirms that Apple is working on a 4G capable iPhone. This new evidence, along with the successful launch of the new iPad, makes us feel 99.999% sure that the new iPhone will feature 4G capability. Full details inside…

As stated, our tipster exclusively provided us with screenshots and detailed information from iOS 5.1. To get this information he used iFile on a jailbroken iOS 5.1 install from an iPhone 4. We were able to replicate this and grab the same exact information on our iPhone 4. We were also able to get the same data from an iPod touch. We’re assuming that these strings exist on all 5.1 IPSW’s.

These particular strings are new to iOS 5.1. We have confirmed that they do not reside on iOS 5.0.1.

The screenshots we received indicate 4G connectivity. Needless to say we were initially skeptical, because after all, the new iPad has 4G LTE, which would explain the presence of text strings like the following:

For example, here is a screenshot of our Verizon LTE equipped iPad. Notice the exact same wording from the text strings above:

Okay, so this is nothing to get excited about, right? These text strings are there because the new iPad uses those settings in the Cellular Data panel in the Settings app.

Not so fast. While it’s true that these settings are found on LTE equipped iPads, the rabbit hole goes a bit deeper. Our tipster provided us with further, more convincing evidence of an upcoming 4G capable phone device.

Notice some of the text strings contained within:

“4G_ON_CALL_CANCEL” = “Cancel”;
“4G_ON_CALL_OK_DISABLE” = “Disable”;
“4G_ON_CALL_OK_ENABLE” = “Enable”;
“4G_ON_CALL_WARNING_DISABLE” = “Disabling 4G will end your phone call. Are you sure you want to disable 4G?”;
“4G_ON_CALL_WARNING_ENABLE” = “Enabling 4G will end your phone call. Are you sure you want to enable 4G?”;
“4G_ON_FACETIME_4G_WARNING_DISABLE” = “Disabling 4G will end FaceTime. Are you sure you want to disable 4G?”;
“4G_ON_FACETIME_WIFI_WARNING_DISABLE” = “Disabling 4G may end FaceTime. Are you sure you want to disable 4G?”;
“4G_TEXT” = “Using 4G loads data faster, but may decrease battery life.”;

This file can be found here:

var/stash/Applications/Preferences.app/English.lproj/Network.strings

These strings go beyond the ambiguous ones contained in the initial screenshots. These strings are definitely indicative of 4G presence on a phone device. Notice 4G_ON_CALL_OK_ENABLE, 4G_ON_FACETIME_4G_WARNING_DISABLE, and “Disabling 4G will end your phone call. Are you sure you want to disable 4G?”

Not only will we be seeing 4G capabilities on future iPhones, but there’s also the possibility that we could see FaceTime finally make itself available (officially) over cellular connections. Considering that 4G connectivity is much more akin to Wi-Fi connections when compared to 3G, we’d say Apple would be more on board than they were with 3G. The final decision likely rests with the carriers, as evident from the lack of 4G FaceTime support on the new iPad.

Now compare the above screenshots and data with screenshots of the same file from my iPhone 4S running iOS 5.0.1. As you can clearly see, those strings don’t exist on the older 5.0.1 firmware.

This file can be found here:

var/stash/Applications/Preferences.app/English.lproj/Network.strings

This is pretty convincing. In fact, we’d be downright shocked if the next iPhone didn’t include 4G LTE connectivity.

Look at the evidence: the new iPad successfully launched with 4G LTE to much praise. AT&T is continuing to flesh out its LTE Network. More and more rumors are stating that Apple is investigating 4G LTE chipsets for the next iPhone. And now this.

Save your pennies ladies and gentlemen; Apple’s next iPhone is leaving the cellular network technology that it’s been using ever since the iPhone 3G’s debut way back in July of 2008.

Special thanks to our tipster, Krishna Sagar, who tipped us exclusively. He’s an amateur hacker from India and happens to be the developer of Cydia tweaks like Jailbreak FAQ for Siri, Awesome Facts for Siri, IP Tracker, and more.

It’s kinda obvious if you ask me, but the thing is; they better make it capable with all countries around the world from day one of it’s release.

Imahottguy

How? The technology to have an LTE chip that supports every band out there is not here, yet. Maybe, just maybe, next years iPhone will have it but I doubt it. If they don’t are they going to be in for some “trubbel”? lol People crack me up “They better have it capable with technology that is not fully in place, and support networks that aren’t even widespread.” really?

just get an android. but why are you asking a couple months early? ask again when your contract is up.

Anonymous

Uh. Apple is now calling HSPA+ “4G” as of iOS 5.1, but making a point of calling LTE “LTE”. This is true on existing iPhone 4S’s running on AT&T’s network, as well as the new iPad. Don’t think you’re wrong that LTE is coming to the iPhone, but Apple’s not going to call it “4G,” so this refers to existing HSPA+ technology. Much ado about nothing.

Apple uses ‘4G’ and ‘LTE’ interchangeably. See the back of the iPad box for proof of this. The HSPA+ is AT&T’s thing, and AT&T’s thing only. It has nothing to do with this. i.e. notice the 3G strings still present above where the 4G strings reside. This is certainly in reference to 4G/LTE.

Anonymous

Internally in iOS, Apple does not use 4G and LTE interchangeably. If they did, when you connected to either an HSPA+ or LTE network, it would say “4G” either way, not 4G for one or LTE for another. And of course the original 3G strings would be there, because 3G is a different beast again: on AT&T, HSPA is 3G, HSPA+ is 4G and LTE is LTE. Marketing aside, the way Apple refers to different 3G/4G technologies is consistent within iOS. The most this proves is that FaceTime over HSPA+ MIGHT be coming soon.

Bro to be honest it’s not really a problem to use Facetime over 3G/4G we’ve seen it before on Jailbreak community. The thing about Facetime over 3G/4G is the network carriers. They don’t like it. Especially on countries that uses more on prepaid.

Anonymous

Dude, to be honest, I have known about the Facetime jailbreak for a while, ever since iDB wrote about it a while back.

I also know it is due to the pressures (especially from AT&T) of the Carriers not being able to keep up with the network traffic.

As it currently is, here in the SF/Bay Area I certainly can “feel” the network strain on AT&T right after work on a daily basis, everything slows down to a crawl, and even SKYPE does not work all that well with the 3G connection.

The reason I think that it is stupid for Apple not to enable Facetime (especially over 4G) is because not all my friends and family are going (or willing for that matter) to jailbreak their iPhone just so I can FT them, that is the issue!

So, I have to have them download Skype. And, frankly, I prefer Skype for its universal flexibility anyways!

Skype currently works on 3G and it can be downloaded to Android phones, laptops, PCs, UBUNTU / Linux and basically everywhere!

But, thanks for your comment. 🙂

Anonymous

Dude, to be honest, I have known about the Facetime jailbreak for a while, ever since iDB wrote about it a while back.

I also know it is due to the pressures (especially from AT&T) of the Carriers not being able to keep up with the network traffic.

As it currently is, here in the SF/Bay Area I certainly can “feel” the network strain on AT&T right after work on a daily basis, everything slows down to a crawl, and even SKYPE does not work all that well with the 3G connection.

The reason I think that it is stupid for Apple not to enable Facetime (especially over 4G) is because not all my friends and family are going (or willing for that matter) to jailbreak their iPhone just so I can FT them, that is the issue!

So, I have to have them download Skype. And, frankly, I prefer Skype for its universal flexibility anyways!

Skype currently works on 3G and it can be downloaded to Android phones, laptops, PCs, UBUNTU / Linux and basically everywhere!

Bro to be honest it’s not really a problem to use Facetime over 3G/4G we’ve seen it before on Jailbreak community. The thing about Facetime over 3G/4G is the network carriers. They don’t like it. Especially on countries that uses more on prepaid.